Hot In Press | Mixmag | After the island: The Breakout DJs of Ibiza 2014

AFTER THE ISLAND: THE BREAKOUT DJS OF IBIZA 2014

15 October 2014

These magnificent seven were the breakout DJ stars of Ibiza 2014. If you aren’t acquainted with them yet, please take the time to do so…

ROSSKO

Four years after Rossko’s debut Ibiza set at Space he returned to the Sunset Terrace several times this season for a series of unannounced (but much talked about) sets at new daytime party, Stripped. But it’s Ross Wareham’s residency at Sankey’s stronghold, Fuse, that the 29-year-old has become best known for, his distinctive sound blending cutting-edge house and techno with on-point selections from the past. Tellingly, he suggests that he plays “people not music”, and it’s his ability to read a crowd and guide the dancefloor that’s sealed his reputation.

JULIAN PEREZ

For those deep in the underground house and techno the name Julian Perez may not be new, but after a breakthrough Ibiza season expect him to start heading bills across the world. Since his first EP back in 2010 Julian has released on a string of labels including Leftroom, ViVA Music and Recycle as well as his own, Ibiza-based, vinyl-only Fathers And Sons. The man from Valencia’s take on house and techno combines Detroit and Chicago with a European dub techno vibe: a recipe that’s won him support from the likes of Ricardo Villalobos, Loco Dice, Apollonia and The Martinez Brothers. This summer he combined strong releases with killer sets at Fuse, tINI & The Gang and Enter. Now on Cocoon, expect to hear a lot more from him.

DJEBALI

With distinguished alumni including Loco Dice and Luciano, DC10 is a training ground for Ibiza’s next big things. The latest to emerge is Parisian underground house star Djebali. The 30-year-old label owner, promoter, producer and DJ played five times for Circoloco this year, at one point holding court for a whopping six hours in the club’s garden and terrace topped off with a back-to-back with Seth Troxler. As well as other appearances at Underground Ibiza and Guy Gerber’s Rumours night he’s been busy promoting his Ideal Juice party back in Paris where he has a residency, playing festivals like Sonus in Croatia and releasing music. His ‘Djebali 08’ EP on his own vinyl-only label kickstarted the summer and was followed by releases for Leftroom and Silver Network – but it’s his remix of ‘Smoke Game’ on Spanish label Oblack that’s been drawing the most attention thanks to a hammering on promo by Apollonia and The Martinez Brothers.

HOLD YOUTH

As solo artists, Seuil and Le Loup have played for Circoloco at DC10 before. But it’s as Hold Youth that their powers are strongest after two dates on the DC10 terrace and a summer blazing through key parties like the off Sónar Half Baked vs Lola Ed party and Kazantip. Back in Paris they’re residents for the legendary Rex Club and all summer they’ve been coasting along nicely on the wave of love for the debut LP ‘De La Club’ on their own Hold Youth label.

PATRICK TOPPING

If you were anywhere near a dancefloor in Ibiza this summer, you’ll have heard ‘Forget’. With an instantly recognisable bassline that rumbled on well into the closing parties, it marked the arrival of 25-year-old Patrick Topping, and as one of the most Shazamed tracks of the season it was rinsed by everyone from Joris Voorn to Joseph Capriati. Having made his Ibiza debut last year, joining the Hot Creations family at DC10 for Jamie Jones’ flagship night, Paradise, Topping returned this year as an official resident, playing four times over the season with an energetic mix of underground house and techno that also caught the attention of island veteran, Steve Lawler, who invited him to play at the Viva Warriors opening party. Topping’s dancefloor has been jumping all summer long and shows no sign of abating. Catch him at Motion, in his home town of Newcastle, and at Manchester’s Warehouse Project.

WAFF

If one DJ encapsulates living the Ibiza dream it’s wAFF. Only three years ago the 20-something raver from Hull was warming up for guests at his Koala night in Hull. And then ‘Jo Johnson’, wAFF’s breakthrough track, was a massive club hit on Hot Creations in 2012. Since then he’s become an integral part of the HC family and a resident for Paradise. In a rock ’n’ roll summer of private jets, European festivals like Tomorrowland and Hideout and Burning Man, a spot on the live stream special alongside label boss Jamie Jones in the spectacular setting of the Cirque Du Soleil villa capped things off nicely. As a producer he’s become one of the hottest new stars in tech-house. With releases earlier in the year on Cocoon and more in the pipeline on his DJing hero Loco Dice’s Desolat Label and Hot Creations, it’s safe to say that wAFF is all over it.

BELLA SARRIS

Witnessing tINI during her inaugural visit to Ibiza was so inspirational to Bella Sarris that, back home, she began cutting her teeth in Sydney’s underground clubs, returning to the White Isle every season. Before long the Australian’s affinity for intricate cuts and hypnotising grooves led her to become a protégé of her curly-haired muse, a member of tINI &The Gang, not to mention a resident this year at Richie Hawtin’s Enter. After a year playing the likes of BPM, Mixmag Live’s Apollonia party, Fabric, WMC, Womb and Sónar, next up is some studio time as the 23-year old seeks to back up her breakthrough DJ year with some production heft.